1854 Swiss federal election explained

Federal elections were held in Switzerland on 29 October 1854. The Radical Left remained the largest group in the National Council, winning 80 of the 120 seats.[1]

Electoral system

The 120 members of the National Council were elected in 49 single- and multi-member constituencies; there was one seat for every 20,000 citizens, with seats allocated to cantons in proportion to their population.[2] The elections were held using a three-round system; candidates had to receive a majority in the first or second round to be elected; if it went to a third round, only a plurality was required. Voters could cast as many votes as there were seats in their constituency.[2] In six cantons (Appenzell Innerrhoden, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Glarus, Nidwalden, Obwalden and Uri), National Council members were elected by the Landsgemeinde.

Results

National Council

By constituency

ConstituencySeatsPartySeats
won
Elected members
Zürich 14Radical Left3
Democratic Left1Johann Jakob Treichler
Zürich 23Radical Left3
Zürich 33Radical Left3
Zürich 43Radical Left2
Evangelical Right1Paul Carl Eduard Ziegler
Bern 54Radical Left4
Bern 64Evangelical Right3
Liberal Centre1Cristoph Albert Kurz
Bern 74Radical Left3
Evangelical Right1Gottlieb Rudolf Bühlmann
Bern 84Radical Left4
Bern 93Radical Left3
Bern 104Radical Left4
Lucerne 112Radical Left1Josef Bucher
Liberal Centre1Josef Martin Knüsel
Lucerne 122Catholic Right2
Lucerne 133Radical Left3
Uri 141Catholic Right1Florian Lusser
Schwyz 152Catholic Right1Karl Styger
Radical Left1Jakob Meinrad Hegner
Obwalden 161Catholic Right1Franz Wirz
Nidwalden 171Catholic Right1Melchior Wyrsch
Glarus 182Radical Left2
Zug 191Catholic Right1Konrad Bossard
Fribourg 203Liberal Centre2
Catholic Right1Alfred Vonderweid
Fribourg 212Catholic Right2
Solothurn 223Liberal Centre2
Radical Left1Josef Munzinger
Basel-Stadt 231Liberal Centre1Johann Jakob Stehlin
Basel-Landschaft 242Radical Left2
Schaffhausen 252Radical Left1Johann Georg Fuog
Liberal Centre1Franz Adolf Schalch
Appenzell Ausserrhoden 262Independent1Jakob Kellenberger
Radical Left1Titus Tobler
Appenzell Innerhoden 271Catholic Right1Johann Nepomuk Hautle
St. Gallen 282Radical Left2
St. Gallen 292Radical Left2
St. Gallen 302Radical Left2
St. Gallen 312Radical Left1Johann Matthias Hungerbühler
Liberal Centre1Johann Georg Anderegg
Grisons 321Evangelical Right1Johann Baptista Bavier
Grisons 331Liberal Centre1Andreas Rudolf von Planta
Grisons 341Radical Left1Georg Michel
Grisons 351Radical Left1Alois de Latour
Aargau 363Radical Left2
Liberal Centre1Samuel Frey
Aargau 374Radical Left3
Liberal Centre1Friedrich Schmid
Aargau 383Catholic Right2
Radical Left1Augustin Keller
Thurgau 394Radical Left4
Ticino 403Catholic Right3
Ticino 413Catholic Right2
Liberal Centre1Rocco Bonzanigo
Vaud 424Radical Left4
Vaud 433Radical Left2
Democratic Left1Abram-Daniel Meystre
Vaud 443Radical Left3
Valais 451Catholic Right1Alexis Allet
Valais 461Catholic Right1Antoine de Riedmatten
Valais 472Radical Left2
Neuchâtel 484Radical Left4
Geneva 493Liberal Centre3
Source: Gruner[3]

Election re-runs

ConstituencySeatsDate of re-runPartySeats
won
Elected members
Ticino 40311 March 1855Radical Left3
Ticino 41311 March 1855Radical Left3
Source: Gruner

Council of States

Notes and References

  1. http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/fr/index/themen/17/22/lexi.Document.137139.xls Elections to the National Council 1848–1917: Distribution of seats by party or political orientation
  2. [Dieter Nohlen]
  3. Book: Gruner, Erich. Die Wahlen in den Schweizerischen Nationalrat 1848–1919. 3.